Pritchard is named Big Ten baseball player of the week

Nebraska junior outfielder Michael Pritchard was named Big Ten Player of the Week after posting a .500 batting average last weekend, with seven hits and a team-high six RBIs. Pritchard and the Huskers went 2-2 record at the Husker Classic this past weekend in Tempe, Ariz., as he scored at least one run, one hit and one RBI in every game. The Omaha native finished the weekend with five extra-base hits, including one double, three triples and one home run. The homer came against Gonzaga on Sunday and was the first of Pritchard’s career.

Two of Pritchard’s three triples came in a season-opening win over Pacific. He became the first Husker in over just under 12 years to hit two triples in a game, as Jeff Liese was the last to pull off the feat against Western Michigan on March 26, 2002. Pritchard also extended his on-base streak to 46 games dating back to last season and holds an on-base percentage of .588, while he holds a 1.214 slugging percentage in 2014.

The Huskers return to the field on Friday at 2 p.m. (CT) when they face No. 1 Oregon State at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz., at the Aramark 2014 Pac 12/Big Ten Challenge. The Huskers then face Washington on Saturday at 8 p.m., also at Surprise Stadium, before meeting Utah on Sunday at 1 p.m., with the game at Goodyear Park in Goodyear, Ariz.